Binners, I'm sorry about your business but any business is going to suffer some some setbacks - pretty big in your case but this isn't typical from those I speak to. Yes there are some dodgy bast**ds around but again there are plenty of decent people too.

I know some people who have started some very successful businesses over the last few years - in the middle of a recession, with very little in the way of cash to fund the startup. So I would argue that this can be the perfect time to start, particularly in these cash strapped times businesses that can undercut and offer better service than a much larger competitor.

anagallis_arvensis - Member

So we have two examplrs Lord Sugar and a bloke in Rochdale I suppose any examples of people who havent become rich are just workshy?

Nope, not everyone wants to become rich but my point is that if you're not happy on minimum wage then it's up to you to do something about it rather than just whinge and bitch on here. If you throw in the towel and blame bad luck, your troubled upbringing, someone else or 'the system' then you're never going to achieve what you want. There are opportunities out there for everyone if you're prepared to look and work hard enough.

ernie_lynch - Member

But he was still GIVEN the opportunity, this bit was not of his own making.

Rebel - when my business went under, around the same time another 4 of my friends also lost their businesses in virtually exactly the same circumstances.

The idea that if you work hard enough then you'll succeed just doesn't ring true in our present society. Some people have the odds massively stacked in their favour. And successive governments have consolidated the advantages enjoyed by a small section of society, and are now set about putting any social mobility gained over recent decades well and truly in reverse

Isn't there saying in business that every succesful businessman goes bust at least once?
Didn't Lord Sugar twice?
That means a lot of people like binners get burned.
Every one of my mates who have their own business (mainly building)have had their fingers burned to a greater or lesser degree and they become a lot cannier about how they work and credit etc.

I'm struggling to understand what I should do to achieve more in life; should I work hard and aspire to better myself or should I throw in the towel and wait for someone to hand my easy life to me on a plate?

I know some people who have started some very successful businesses over the last few years - in the middle of a recession, with very little in the way of cash to fund the startup. So I would argue that this can be the perfect time to start, particularly in these cash strapped times businesses that can undercut and offer better service than a much larger competitor

Wow where is this mythical land of which you speak?

These examples [ what a mixed bunch of friends you have - successful business person after successful business person after successful business person- given they spend all hours working where exactly do you meet them - are you their accountant?] are not typical as a quick glance at reality will quickly persuade you.

Again yes some folk can be successful but it is like arguing if we all work hard at football we will all be premiership football players.

Perhaps we should have confidence that the Low Pay Commission will continue to do their job properly?

Last year, it concluded that:

Our research programme for the 2012 Report has added to the existing literature on the impact of the NMW on earnings, employment and hours. Taking all of this knowledge collectively, we conclude that the lowest paid had received higher than average pay rises, and the research, on balance, generally finds little or no significant adverse impact of the minimum wage on employment.

And their research and considerations included:

Stakeholder views on the appropriate level for the adult rate fell roughly into two camps. A large number of employer representatives, especially those from small businesses, called for a freeze, citing the uncertain economic outlook and the pressures businesses were currently under. They felt there should not be an increase until we were in a period of sustained growth. Some, however, saw room for a modest increase although they urged caution given the fragility of the labour market....

...On the other hand, worker representatives all wanted to see an increase. They said that the economy was recovering, albeit slowly, and that a large increase was necessary to offset the fall in the real value of the minimum wage caused by inflation. Some wanted to see an increase in line with inflation (CPI or RPI) and others saw a living wage as the ultimate aim, so wanted to see a substantial increase this year, as a first step towards this.

Seems like the body responsible takes its role seriously and with suitable rigour. Why would this change just because the Coalition government asks them to consider another question?